WP rally late for bonus-point win

CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: Western Province put their campaign back on track with a bonus-point win over the Pumas at Newlands on Friday.

The 28-14 win – their first of the second half of the season – saw WP move into second place on the standings, although they have played a game more than all those below them.

The bonus-point try, scored by World Cup-winning prop and Province stalwart Steven Kitshoff, came almost five minutes into referee’s optional time.

It was not the Cape Town outfit’s most impressive performance, but a grafting effort that keeps them in the race for home ground advantage in the play-offs.

* As it happened. To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

The home side started strong, camping in the opposition half without being able to finish, but the Pumas would be first to score as a counter-attack resulted in outside centre Erich Cronje wriggling over for a try.

That would be their only points of the first half, however, as Western Province dominated both territory and possession. There were a number of breakdown penalties either way, but the hosts had a clear advantage in the set-pieces.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men when lock Le Roux Roets was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle and replacement flyhalf Kade Wolhuter made no mistake with the resulting penalty to put Western Province on the scoreboard.

They continued to exploit their advantage up front and the pressure eventually told as hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni crashed over for a try in the corner from a driving maul.

Western Province continued to press home their advantage, but the Pumas defence held out until half-time, with the home side taking an 8-5 advantage into the break.

The second try came shortly after half-time as Western Province showed good patience on attack to work themselves into the 22 before the ball was swung out to Angelo Davids who stepped a few defenders to score.

They followed that up with a second maul try from Ntubeni, who powered over for a five-pointer before being replaced by Bongi Mbonambi. The Pumas responded with a penalty from Devon Williams to make it 18-8 following a high tackle in front of the poles.

The teams traded penalties once again, with first Wolhuter and then Williams slotting kicks to make it 21-11 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Western Province was reduced to 14 when Herschel Jantjies was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements from his side. The home side was forced to defend and eventually gave away another penalty, which Williams kicked over.

However, Western Province was not done and showed great resolve and patience to work Steven Kitshoff over for the bonus-point try after the hooter, which sealed the 28-14 win.

Man of the match: There were several warriors in a willing Pumas team. Lock Le Roux Roets, despite his yellow card, produced another combative performance. Centre Ali Mgijima, who even won turnovers at the breakdown, and teenager Tiaan Botes – who not flawless, but showed amazing maturity for such a young player – were also standout performers. Then there was Devon Williams, who was impressive when he came on as a second-half replacement and kept his team in the hunt with his boot. WP prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko may have struggled in the scrums, but his work on defence was impressive. One-time Bok Siyabonga Ntubeni had a few armchair rides in the mauls and scored two tries before he was replaced early in the second half. The most impressive forward was Steven Kitshoff – who had several effective carries and did a mountain of work at the breakdown – while he also scored the bonus-point try at the end. He will enjoy next week’s bye. Our award goes to Western Province wing Angelo Davids – for his defence, chasing and work in the air. He is a valuable asset in the kick-and-chase game Province played, while he also scored a crucial try early in the second half.

The scorers

For Western Province
Tries: Ntubeni 2, Davids, Kitshoff
Con: Wolhuter
Pens: Wolhuter 2

For the Pumas
Try: Cronje
Pens: Williams 3

Yellow cards: Le Roux Roets (Pumas, 30 – foul play, high shot), Herschel Jantjies (Western Province, 74 – cynical foul, slapping ball out of scrumhalf’s hand)

Teams

Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Michael Haznar, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Tristan Leyds, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Kwenzo Blose, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Dan du Plessis.

Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Isbell Ruwellyn, 10 Tiaan Botes, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets , 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Edward Potgieter, 20 Ginter Smuts, 21 Devon Williams, 22 Jacob Kleinhans, 23 Liam Hendricks.

Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Egon Seconds
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans

Picture credit: speedshots.co.za